Machine for applying sealing bands to bottles



March 10, 1953 J. L. POMEROY Er AL 2,630,956

MACHINE FOR APFLYING SEALING BANDSTO BOTTLES Filed April 29, 1946 1o sheets-sheet 1 @www |%1 mi `f L L V I hllilll.' 5mn Il l m: Q

l l m Qq v D N N N Il l --.f I --HI'HHIv- I Ill l Q I llllnll V /Lf N 1`. N l Q Q ,if LL. l 1 fh 715i, 1

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k Jack L Pamezjoy .Wczrtan Eddzsan lINVENTORJ,

ATTORNEY March 10, 1953 J. POMEROY ET AL 2,630,956

MACHINE FOR APPLYI'NG SEALING BANDS To BOTTLES Filed April 29, 1946 10 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Jack L .Pomeroy Barton Eddz'son INVENTORJ:

ATTORNEY March l0, 1953 J..L. PoMERoY Er AL 2,630,955

i MACHINE. FOR APPLYING SEAL'ING BANDS To vBOTTLES F'iled April 29, 194s 1o sheets-sheet s ATTURNEK March 10, 1953 J. L. PoMERoY l-:r AL 2,530,955

' MACHINE `FOR APPLYING sEALrNG BANDS To BOTTLES Filed April 29, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jack L.Pomer0y wBaron Edcis'an INVENToRs:

ATTORNEY March 10, 1953 J.. l.. P'oMERoY ET AL 2,630,956

MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING BANDS TO BOTTLES Filed April 29, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jac K L Pomez'qy f" IN VEN TORS ATTOR HEY March 10, 1953 .1. L. PoMRoY r-:r AL 2,630,956

MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING BANDS TO BOTTLES Filed April 29, 194e 1o sheets-sheet e JczcKLPOmeg-Oy 37 Wcffn Ecldzson INVENTORS.'

ATTORNEY March l0, 1953 J. L. PQMERQY h' AL 2,630,956

MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING BANDS `TO BOTTLES Filed April 29, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 Jack L.Pome ray I/lCBarton Ecdz'son INVENTORS.'`

ATTORNEY.

March l0, 1953 J. L. POMERQY ETAL 2,630,956

Mmmm: FOR APPLYING sEAnING BANDS To BOTTLES Filed Apr'il M29, 1946 1Q Sheets-Sheet 8 F1612. /00 FIG .Jack L. Pomeroy ATTORNEY March v10, 1953 J. L .PQMEROY ET AL 2,630,956

' MACHINE Fox APPLYING SEALING BANDS ToBQTTLEs Filed April 29, 194e 1o shee's-sneet 9 FIG. 18.

wBarzon Edd i san INVENTOR'.'

aww

TTRNEY.

Jack L Pomeroy March 10, 1953 J. PoMERoY Er AL MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING BANDS TO BOTTLES 10,Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed April 29, 1946 .QN .DE

V INVENTORJ.-

.the bands to the bottles..

uPatente-cl Mar. 10, '1953 I UNITED STATES TENT oFFIcE :MAoHrNE Fon APBLYING sgEApI/N isANps 'ro BOTTLES .Application ,April 29, 1946, Serial N9.' .665,385

(ci. 22e- 80) 35 Claims. 1

This invention relates .tota machine for .applying sealing bands to bottlesandthe like.

The machine is particularly A.adapted to the application of bands of wet `regenerated cellulose which shrink rapidly .upon drying `and t tightly upon the surf-ace to which they are applied such as the necks .and .capsof bottles.

Machines `Vfor .applying kvarious ytypes of bottle caps and .covers have not beensuitahle for the application of .regenerated .cellulose bands.

The stacking of `the bands in ordinary maga- .zines with .the bandsexposed to .the air has resulted in initial shrinking of someoi the bands before they pass `through Ythe machine, dependlng upon the lengthof time the hands `have been in the stack, and .the .machines have b eenincapa- .ble of handling .the various sizes thereby involved, and in someinstances .the initialshrinking is so great as to prevent the application of If .the mahrl iS stopped for any reason .the Qhandsjin the `stack become so driedand shrunk .thatjthey lare no longer suitable for use.

The stripping .of ythe .bands from the .Stacker .magazine has pnesenjted `a problem vdue :to the lwide tolerances 'in thickness .of the hands.

The suction andair pressure 'means employed vfor opening other types )of seals-"have been entirely unsuited .tothe LrJeIiiiig :f wetjre'generated cellulose bands. ',Thesuction and airjets Vdry A .certain parts of the bands and-eiect an n nis to provide a machinew-hich cvercoinesvthe above diiliculties and nwhich vwill lapply sealing bands to a seriesof-bottlesfpassingthrough the machine in :rapidy succession andv-inpontinuous operation.

Another .object of fthe 'invention ,isgtogproyide a machine of this typeinwhichpthe:sealing bands are disposed-.in :a magazineupmerged vinadmud to preservegthe bands 'andarefremoved succession to bel-applied; to;` the :bott-les,

Another opj ect is. toJprovidejarnachine having a simple and .effectivmmechanical means for opening the .sealingloands .as they come. from the magazine. f

Another object. .is .to v.provide amachine having a simple and. effectivev mechanism .for picking up and rapidly transferring; the. enen. Sealneiband to a bottleneck.

Other .obiects end adventase. Ofthe invention are 'setiorthhereinafter" the description of Vlinger opera-tedtoopen' 'the pand;

carriage for the fingers;

an embodiment ofthe invention illustrated -in the l-accompanying drawings.

-In the r dran/illes:` lFigure Y1 -is a top plan `View oi the machine; Fig. V2 lis anend elevation of the machine with parts brolzen away and sectioned; A

Fig. 2a, yits a detail transverse'section Vtaken on line lZit-2a of jFig. -2 with theoperative feed trough removed; Fig. 3 is a front eleva-tion of the machine with the magazine tank broken awa-valid sectioned; Fig. i is an enlarged'detail"view section-ing the stripper-and `the inner endof the magarine, and showing the suction passages in thel stripper;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figl 4 showing the stripper in the .eci Qf .lifting a .bend from the magazm?? Fig. V6 is a `4detail view showing v-the drive for the stripper drum;

'Fg- '7 is .a 'lansle .,SQQQD through the stripper drum taken on line 1;] ofFigf and shcwnglthe por'ts*therein;i

Fig. A8 is an enlarged detail section lshowing the opener linger disposed aloQvea-b rid the opened; Fig. l9 is a View similar to Fi showing the 'Figflo is a detail'view l partially in section showing the mechanismforfexpanding and contracting the pickup *lingers*andfor operating'V the Fig. 11 is aerontelevation showing the pickup Hlingers `at V`the extreme ofliits arriage movement Vust after .depositing band upon vthe contracted -V'Fig 12is yan enlarged detail section Iof -the loading headM-showin'gltheyloading fingers `closed together and disposed :horizontal-1y to 4receive a Fig. y-13 is a vdetail 4sectiontalen at 4right angles Fig. '14 is a view simiIarJto-JFig. fl-2 showing the loading-ifingers expanded to hold Aa band;

the bandi-deposited..uponathe bottle fb'yr the Ystripper plate;

AFig. 18 Ais-a detail plan 4View partially #in ysection y showing vthemechanismifor operating the load- 3 operative parts with the cams for driving the same.

The machine is made up of a plurality of parts operated in synchronism to strip successive bands from a magazine, open the same, pick them up individually and transfer them to loading iingers, expand the loading fingers to shape the respective bands, translate the bands from a horizontal transporting position to a vertical position over a bottle top, and drop the bands onto the bottles, one by one. The parts are all operated from a single source of power in rapid time cycle whereby each separate movement constitutes only a small part of the total time of applying a single band, and while one band is being dropped on a bottle another is being opened and picked up, and while one is being transferred to the loading ngers another is being stripped from the magazine. j

The seal bands I of regenerated cellulose are tubular and are folded flat and packed in cans of glycerin solution or other suitable preservative liquid. When removed from the liquid they quickly dry and shrink. When applied to bottle tops 2, as shown, the bands shrink to the shape side by side, in a magazine trough il in a tank lilled with preservative liquid 6 to a level above the bands. The tank preferably has two troughs 4 removably supported therein side by side and which are readily interchangeable so that an operator may iill one while the other is emptying.

The operative trough is disposed horizontally and substantially radially of a large rotary stripper cylinder 1 which has its upwardly moving side disposed on a level with the bands l and extending transversely across the inner end of the stack so that the end band lies up against the cylinder ready tofollow the cylinder in its upward movement.

The outer end of the stack of bands i is pressed forwardly toward the cylinder 1 by means of a pusher plate 8 pressed thereagainst by a pivotal lever arm biased in the direction referred to by a weight I0 on the outer end of a corresponding arm Ii thereof.

The movement of the stack or magazine of bands I forwardly by pusher plate 8 is facilitated by a vertical and lateral periodic tamping of the bands by means of a vertically reciprocating shoe I2 engaging the top of the bands and the hinging and tilting of one of the side Walls of the trough 4 toward the bands. The shoe I2 is secured to the lower end of a vertical arm i3 which in turn is driven by mechanism to be described later herein. The arm I3 has a projection i4 adapted to engage a lateral arm i5 on the hinged side of trough 4 to effect tiltingof the side wall toward the bands. This periodic tamping of the bands straightens the stack and brings the bands into true position for stripping by drum 'I.

A stationary shoe I6 rests on top of the magazine adjacent the stripper drum l' and has its forward edge curved upwardly to facilitate entrance of the bands I beneath the same. The shoe I6 has its inner edge spaced from drum 1 at a distance at least as great as the maximum thickness for the bands I.

The stripper drum I is adapted to pick up successive bands I from the magazine as the 4 drum rotates on a horizontal axis. The druni illustrated rotates intermittently and is operated by any suitable intermittent clutch such as the ratchet Il (Fig. 6) secured to the side of the drum and the pawl i3 spring pressed to engage the ratchet and mounted on an arm I9 pivotally mounted on the shaft 2i) of the drum. The arm I9 is reciprocated through a limited cycle of rotation by a link 2I joining the same to a pivoted operating arm 22 having a cam follower 23 adapted to engage and follow a rotary drive cam 24 for the drum. The arm 22 is biased toward the cam 2 by a tension sprin'7 25 at all times, and which holds follower 23 in constant contact with cam 2li.

The drum 1 has a plurality of stripping st-ations, preferably about seven stations, spaced about its circumference. Likewise, ratchet il has the same number of teeth so that for each completed movement of the ratchet the drum 'I presents a new stripper station adjacent the end band I in the magazine.

The rotation of the drum is obtained by means of spring 25 biasing arm 22 inwardly following cam 2d, and the drum is indexed and held stationary during the time when the cam Zit forces arm 22 outwardly against spring 25 to set the pawl I8 in the next notch of ratchet I?.

Each rotation of cam 2d represents one cycle of operation for the machine and is timed to coincide with the time between each placement or" a band I on a bottle. There are seven such cycles of the machine yfor each complete revolution of the ydrum l.

The indexing and holding of drum I :against rotation is accomplished 'by the spring-pressed detent `23 in .the hub of the drum engaging in a recess 27 in the hardened end plate 2B, there be-` ing a recess 2l Ifor each index position of the drum.

lThe intermittent rotation of drum "I and the movement of shoe I2 serves to keep liquid i6 somewhat agitated. In addition to this, the liquid is preferably recirculated through tank 5 .by means of a gear pump 29 and Ialso of a jet pump 36.

Each stripper station on drum l has 'a rubber or neoprene face 3l to which a band I may cling. For this purpose the drum l may have a circumferential strip of neoprene 32 encircling the same and compressed thereon by ea thin stainless steel strip l$3 having itsV ends welded together at 34. The strip 33 has 'a rectangular opening at each stripper station of a size a little less than a band I and -through `which the neoprene is exposed to receive a band.

To effect stripping of :a band I from the magazine, each stripper station on drum 'I has a series of vacuum holes 35 exten-ding in a row across .the drum immediately above the face 3| so that the top edge of the corresponding band -I is sucked against the drum to lift the bandas the drum rotates lto present the next station.

The vacuum is app-lied to holes 35 for each station by means of a groove A3S in strip 32 and drum 'I constituting a header for the -h-oles and which is connected through radial passages 3'I in drum 'i to one of two recesses 38 in shaft 20 and through a passage 39 .for .the corresponding recess 38 extending longitudinally of shaft 20 to a .conduit ll leading to gear pump 29.

The recesses 38 are separated 'by a narrow rib 4I 'and each extends circumferentially of shaft 120 a distance suflicient to connect with a single set of radial passages 3'! in drum I Iand nearly to an escote adjacent set. The recesses 38 'connect with vadjacent sets of passages 3l.

When the drum is indexed :and a ban-d I is about to 'ce stripped from the magazine the lower recess 33 applies suction to the stripper station next to the foot of ythe magazine and the upper recess applies suction to the corresponding station next above the magazine. When drum l is rotated to its Anext succeeding indexed position, shaft 2@ is likewise rotated -to maintain the vacuum on the bands at the two stations `during the rotational movement of the drum. As soon as the .drum is indexed, the shaft 2t is rotated in la reverse direcf tion an amount equal .to the previous rotational movement, 'and during I'which reverse movement it continues to apply a vacuum to ythe `hand on the station above the magazine. When the shaft 2t reaches the. end of .its reverse stroke it connects the lower recess 3d with the passages 3l for the next succeeding stripper station at the foot of 'the magazine and secures a Aband l to the drum for stripping the band from the magazine upon the next rotational movement of the drum, and the upper recess 38 is then :connected with passages 37 for the angularly disposed stripper station nextnabove the magazine.

The shaft it constitutes a Valve rnen'rher for applying vacuum to the several stripper stations in succession as the latter are presented. to the magazine and rise above `the same in the strippingt operation. The vacuum is yapplied. to each band along a closed edge ,thereof where there is little danger of warping the band, and the opening and transferring of the hand to a 1oottle top is so rapid thereafter that there is no time for any initial shrinking of the hand to maire its handling difficult.

The valve shaft 2t is operated by means of a cam 42, :a follower 43 on pivotal arm ed and a link. i5 joining arm it to a pin 'llt set a flange el' on the shaft 2t. A spring d8 biases the ,arm at toward cani t2 to maintain the follower e3 in contact with .the cam.

"Ihe cams 24 and. e2 are mounted on :a cornanon drive shaft @9 disposed parallel to shaft 2e. Likewise, the cam follower arms 2:2- .and '45| may be pivotally mounted on a common pin 5G disposed parallel to shafts 2t and 49.

The two cam movements for stripping a band i from the magazine involve .the intermittent rotation of drum by cam 214, andthe operation of valve memo er hy cam 1322.

When a stripper station with its band l reaches the second stop or upper position on drum l the Ihand lies nearly horizontal on the face 3|. At this time an opener finger 5| having a rubber or neoprene tip covering 52vis lowered into engagement with the top surface of the band near its center. The finger 5| is then moved. a short distance in the direction of rotation of drum "IY while the latter is held stationary by the detent 25. This. movement of finger 5| distorts the band l' to produce a 'separation of. the walls thereof. iny front of and loehind the finger so th-at the band is opened. near its two side edges to receive la pair of pickup and'Y 'transfer lingers 53.

During the time the band isloeing opened by finger 5| the valve shaft 2li is. being returned to apply suction tothe new stripper station.

The return ofthe valve cuts olf the vacuum con-Y nection from the band I thatis being opened.

The finger 5| is raisedfromtheloand lassoon as lingers 53l enter theband tov the., same from the drum.

The operation of finger 5| is effected ty fnounting the same 'on a vertically movable post 54. The lfinger 5| is pivoted 'at point 5 5 onpost 54 substantially above the level or trie tip 52 of the linger and the 1inger5| extends laterally ldown'- ward from the pivot to its tip so 'that downward movement ofthe post 5d is' translated into a lateral movement of the tip 52 as the linger pivots on its support.

For the purpose of lifting' the finger oli-rein band l a stop 56v is pro-vided on post l51| and against which the finger engages :as the p'st moves upwardly, thereby stopping further pivotal movement of the finger 'and raising the saine with the post. When post 54 lowers the linger el moves downwardly 'therewith until the tip 52 engages band `at which time further lowering`r of the post eifects a pivotal movement of linger p 5|' away from stop 56 and causes the tip 52 to move sidewise upon handull and open the same as described. The lingers 53 then enter the band andare expanded by separation vto secure the hand thereon while finger 5| is being raised` fromV the band. l

A tensionspring 51 is preferably employed be tween the finger 5| :and the lower end of post 5e to bias the linger downwardly upon hand with a predetermined pressure' and in a direction effecting engagement' between the finger and stop 5S. The `spring prevents displacement of the 'linger during rapid operation of the machine from the inertia of the weights involved.

The post 5B is operatedoy aver-tical rack 5'8 on its upper end meshing withv a gear 59 on a horizon-tal rock shaft t!! that extends transversely of shaft 49 and is in turn rotated hy a gear 6| on the rear vend of shaft 60 meshing with a vertical rack 52 having a cam follower 631 en its lower end riding `on a camF 64 onshaft 49.

The pickup lingers 52V are L--shaped and Ide-A pend from a transfer carriage '65 supported for horizontal movement by an upper frame work 65 wh-ich also carries the` shaft Y60 and itsV apr purtenances. The carriage` 65 has an upper dovetail tenonl 6l fitting Ibetween beveled guide;` ways 58 securedV totheunderside of fra-me `lili, and` the carriage S5 isY adapted-.to move longitudinal'- ly of the guideways in 'a' direction parallel tothe axis of drum 1 and to camshaft 49.

The movement of carriage |55r eiteotsthe transfer of band l by fingers 5-3 from the drum 'I to the loading lingers- 59'. For this purpose, the top surface of tenori: $1 has a--rack 10 which meshes with a gear 'H1 on a horizontal rack shaft l24 carried by frame 9S- and which infturnis driven by al gear '|'3 on its rear end meshing with a vertical rack 14 having a cam follower 75y on its lowerr end riding on acamv 'IS on shaft 4S.

The nngers 53 are carried by individua'ltransverse slides- T! and i181 which` arefbiased inwardly toward `eachotl'ierloy a tension springv 'is extending-between pins elldepending tro-m the slides. Eachof the slides 'ilandy 'I8 has an adjust-able pin 8| threaded therethroughandA having `a rounded inner end to engage an operating cam 82 adapted to spread the slides apart at a predetermined point inthe cycle-fv ofthe machine and to allow springA 1 9` to move the sli-des together at another point inthecycle.

Cam 32 comprisesa longitudinalslide mounted in` carriage 65 betweenslidesll and '58,.and which has a relatively thin section with parallel sides at one'end3 a relatively thicksection withparallel sides atthe other end; andi a Beveled cani section $3v thereetwe'ei; lvei'net of' car'iiM asados@ slide 82 longitudinally of carriage 65 determines which end section of the slide is disposed between the slides 'I'I and 'I8 thereby determining the separation of the latter slides and of the corresponding fingers 53.

The cam slide B2 is operated automatically by the reciprocation of carriage 65, the operation being effected by a rod 84 secured axially to slide 82 and extending parallel to the movement of the carriage. Rod 84 passes loosely through a plate 85 fixed to frame 66, and the rod carries a pair of stop nuts 86 and 81 adjustably threaded thereon on opposite sides of plate 85.

When carriage 65 moves toward drum 'l to enter iingers 53 into a band I to be picked up, and just before the carriage reaches the extreme of its movement, after initial entry of ngers 53 in the band, stop nut 86 engages plate 85 and stops further movement of cam slide 82 with the carriage. As carriage 65 continues to the end of its stroke, cam section 83 on slide 82 rides between the inner ends of pins 8l and forces slides 'Il and 78 apart, thereby separating fingers 53 and causing them to pick up the band I which is then tightly stretched across the ngers.

The carriage 65 is then reversed in direction carrying cam slide 82 with it until the band i is slipped over the ends of the loader lingers 89. As the carriage 65 approaches the end of this transfer stroke and the band I engages the stripper plate 88 which stops further travel of the band, the cuter stop nut 8l on rod 84 engages plate 85 and stops further travel of cam slide 32. As carriage 65 continues to the end of its stroke to release band I from iingers 53, cam section 83 on slide 82 is withdrawn from between the inner ends of pins 8I and the slides 'I'I and i8 are moved inwardly by spring 'I9 thereby moving the fingers 53 toward each other to release the band as the fingers m-ove rearwardly clear of the band.

Before the carriage B5 is moved forwardly to pick up another band I the loader fingers S9 are expanded by separation to provide a substantially circular shape for the band thereon and the fingers 69 are tilted downwardly to position the band vertically over a bottle top 2 and out of the way of the returning fingers 53. When the fingers t9 have deposited the band I upon a bottle top 2 the iingers 69 are returned to horizontal contracted position in line to receive the next succeeding band from fingers 53.

The transfer of band I from drum 'i to loader fingers 69 involves the opening of the band by linger 5I driven by cam 54 which raises and lowers the finger; the entrance of ngers 53 into the open band by movement of carriage 65 driven by cam 7S; the separation of fingers 53 to pick up the band; the carrying of band I to fingers 69 by carriage 65; the contracting of fingers 53 and withdrawal of the same from the band; and the return of the contracted fingers 53 by carriage E5 to position for picking up the next band.

There are three basic movements involved in loading: (l) the expansion and contraction of fingers 6B so that the lingers are arranged in a common plane when receiving a band I from fingers 53 and are expanded to give the band a substantially circular open shape when applying the same to a bottle top 2; (2) the tilting of the iingers from horizontal to vertical and back again; and (3) the reciprocation of stripper plate 88 which pushes the band I downwardly from fingers S9 onto the top of bottle top 2.

For this purpose the fingers 69 and stripper plate 88 are carried by a loader block 89 which is secured on one end of a sleeve journaledl in and extending through a pedestal 9i fixed on the base 92 of the machine. The axis of sleeve is at right angles to the axis of drum 1 and drive shaft 49. The block 89 is disposed at a height in which fingers 69 will register in the same horizontal plane with fingers 53 to receive a band I, and in which the fingers 69 Will register with the bottle tops 2 and be disposed just above the same to deposit the bands thereon as each bottle is moved successively thereunder to receive the band.

A secondary drive shaft 93 is provided parallel to the axis of sleeve 90 and to one side of the pedestal 9! and is driven from shaft 49 by suitable gearing ...4. Three cams are mounted on shaft 93, cam 95 serving to operate iingers 69, cam 96 serving to reciprocate the stripper plate 8S and cam 91 serving to oscillate the loader block 89.

There are preferably eight fingers is in the form of parallel wires and arranged in pairs. When the block 89 is disposed with the fingers horizontal and ready to receive a band I from nngers 53, each pair of fingers has one finger lying above the other. The pairs of fingers 59 are about equally spaced apart laterally so that the outermost pairs are disposed on opposite sides of the stripper plate H8 and the innermost pairs extend through vertical slots 98 in the stripper plate.

The lower fingers 69 of each outer pair are secured to the top of a lower U-shaped vertical slide 99 and the upper fingers 69 of each outer pair are secured to the bottom of an inverted upper U-shaped vertical slide Iil. Said slides 99 and mi! are disposed for corresponding vertical movement in opposite directions so that when the siides are closed together the ngers 69 carried thereby are closed for passage of band I thereover, and when the slides are separated vertically the corresponding fingers 69 are like- Wise separated vertically to expand the band.

The lower fingers 65 of each inner pair are secured to the top of a lower inner slide IDI adapted to slide vertically in the U of the slide 89, and the upper fingers $9 of each inner pair are secured to the bottom of an upper inner slide Iii? adapted to slide vertically in the U of the slide i555. A front plate IBB on block 39 covers the slides 9d to IGZ to hold them in place, and has vertical channels lill! therethrough for receiving the corresponding fingers 69 and guiding their movement.

Slides Se and ll) have flanges 85 extending inwardly from each side and disposed between slides Iii# and lili so that when the latter are closed together they effect closing of slides 99 and IDU upon each other to bring the outer fingers 69 together.

Slides mi and H12 are synchronized in movement by means of a transverse pinion 06 mounted in end bearings in the side walls of block 8s and meshing with a vertical rack itl on the back of upper slide IiZ and with a corresponding vertical rack IES on the front of an upstanding body projection at the rear of slide wi. Movement of slide IBI either up oi down effects a corresponding movement of slide |62 in the opposite direction.

Slide Ii is driven by a vertical rack |59 on its side which meshes with drive gear IIO whose shaft Hi is centrally journaled in a bearing member H2 on block 9. The end of shaft III opposite gear IIII has a gear I I3 driven by lar shrink fit regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a horizontal magazine adapted to contain a plurality of flat seals placed on edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed to present an upwardly movable cylindrical surface adjacent the fiat surface of the seal at one end of the magazine, means for moving said seals toward said stripper drum, a nonslip outer surface for said drum adapted to aid in lifting said seals successively from said magazine one by one as the drum rotates, means to hold said seals in engagement with said drum surface to effect lifting of successive seals thereby, and means cooperating with said non-slip surface to open each said seal While the same is on said drum.

5. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink fit regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a horizontal magazine adapted to contain a plurality of flat seals placed on edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed to present an upwardly movable cylindrical surface adjacent the flat surface of the seal at one end of the magazine, means for moving said seals toward said stripper drum, a nonslip outer surface for said drum adapted to aid in lifting said seals successively from said magazine one by one as the drum rotates, means to hold said seals in engagement with said drum surface to effect lifting of successive seals thereby, and means adapted to press upon the outer surface of each successive seal on said drum with a nonslip surface of small area after the seal has been stripped from said magazine and to move laterally thereto a short distance in a direction toward a closed edge of the seal to effect opening of the seal near its two closed edges.

6. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink fit regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a horizontal magazine adapted to contain a plurality of fiat seals placed on edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed to present an upwardly moving cylindrical surface adjacent the dat surface of the seal at one end of the magazine, means for moving said seals toward said stripper drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced non-slip faces on said drum constituting stripper stations adapted to engage corresponding seals and aid in lifting the same one by one from said magazine, means to lift said seals in engagement with said drum faces, and means adapted to press upon the outer surface of each successive seal on said drum with a non-slip surface of small area after the seal has been stripped from said magazine and to move laterally thereto a short distance in a direction toward a closed edge of the seal to effect opening of the ends of the seal near its two closed edges.

7. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink t regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a horizontal magazine adapted to contain a plurality of at seals placed on edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed to present an upwardly moving cylindrical surface adjacent the flat surface of the seal at one end of the magazine, means for moving said seals toward said stripper drum, a non-slip outer surface for said drum adapted to aid in lifting said seals successively from said magazine one by one as the drum rotates, means to lift said seals in engagement with said drum, means cooperating with said non-slip surface to open each said seal while the same is on said drum, and means entering said open seal to pick up the same from said drum and effect transfer f the. Seal t0 a' bottle top.

8. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink nt regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a horizontal magazine adapted to contain a plurality of flat seals placed on edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed to present an upwardly moving cylindrical surface adjacent the flat surface of the seal at one end of the magazine, means for moving said seals toward said stripper drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced non-slip faces on said drum 4constituting stripper stations adapted to engage correspending seals and aid in lifting the same one by one from said magazine, means to lift said seals in engagement with said drum faces, means adapted to press upon the outer surface of each successive seal on said drum with a non-slip surface of small area after the seal has been stripped from said magazine and to move laterally thereto a short distance in a direction toward a closed edge of the seal to effect opening of the ends of the seal near its two closed edges, and means entering said open seal to pick up the same from said drum and effect transfer of the seal to a bottle top.

9. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink t regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a magazine adapted to contain a plurality of flat seals, a rotary stripper drum disposed at the discharge end of said magazine, means to rotate said drum in a direction to present a movable cylindrical surface adjacent the fiat surface of the seal at said discharge end of the magazine, said drum having non-slip stripper stations on its outer surface, means to periodically interrupt the rotation of said drum to index said stripper stations successively with respect to the end seal 0f said magazine, suction means effecting gripping of successive seals by corresponding stripper stations of the drum during corresponding periods of dwell between successive intermittent rotary movements of the drum and to strip the seals from the magazine upon rotation of the drum, and means to remove successive seals from the stripper stations of the drum as the latter is indexed by a dwell in rotation with said removal means.

10. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink fit regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a horizontal magazine adapted to contain a plurality of flat seals placed on edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed at the discharge end of said magazine, means to rotate said drum in a direction to present an upwardly movable cylindrical surface adjacent the nat surface of the seal at said discharge end of the magazine, means for moving said seals toward said stripper drum, a plurality of circumieren tially spaced non-slip faces on said drum constituting stripper stations adapted to engage corresponding seals and aid in lifting the same one by one from said magazine, means to remove successive seals from stripper stations on said drum, and means to periodically interrupt the rotation of said drum to index successive stripper stations thereon relative to said magazine and said removal means.

11. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink fit regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a horizontal magazine adapted to contain a plurality of flat seals placed on edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed at the discharge end of said magazine, means to rotate said drum in a direction to present an upwardly movable cylindrical surface adjacent the fiat surface of the Seal at one end of the magazine,

spaanse slip face and eiect lifting of the seal with the drum, means to remove successive seals from stripper stations on said drum, means to release the suction on the seals as the corresponding stripper stations register with said removal means, and means to periodically interrupt the rotation of said drum to index successive stripper stations thereon relative to said magazine and said removal means.

12. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink it regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a horizontal magazine adapted to contain a plurality of fiat seals placed on edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed to present an upwardly movable cylindrical surface adjacent the iiat surface of the seal at one end of the magazine, means for moving said seals toward said stripper drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced non-slip faces on said drum constituting stripper stations adapted to engage corresponding seals and aid in lifting the same one by one from said magazine, each stripper station of said drum having a vacuum passage into the interior, means for applying a suction through said passage to the successive stations as they reach said magazine to hold the corresponding seal against said non-slip face and effect lifting of the seal with the drum, means to rotate said drum intermittently to present successive stripper stations thereon to said magazine, said drum carrying said seals successively to an opening station, and means to open each said seal While the same is on said drum.

13. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink t regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a horizontal magazine adapted to contain a plurality of flat seals placed on edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed to present an upwardly moving cylindricalsurace adjacent the flat surface of the seal at one end of the magazine, means for moving said seals toward said stripper drum, means for effecting the lifting of the seals successively by said drum as the latter rotates, and means to open each said seal While the same is on said drum.

14.111 av machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink it regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a horizontal mag` zine adapted to contain a plurality of flat seals placed on. edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed to present an upwardly moving cylindrical surface adjacent the flat surface of the seal at one end of the magazine, means for moving said seals toward said stripper drum, means for effecting the lifting of the seals successively by said drum as the latter rotates, means to open each said seal While the same is on said drum, and means to piek up said opened seals from the drum and effect transfer of the samev to corresponding bottle tops. y

l5. ln a machine for applying sea-ls ofthe tabular 'shrink fit regenerated cellulose type to bottle -tops and the like, a horizontal magazine adapted to contain a plurality of flat seals placed on edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed to present an. upwardly moving cylindrical. suriace adjacent the dat surface of the' seal at one end of the magazine, means for' moving said seals toward said stripper drum, means` for effecting the lifting of the seals successively by Said drum as the latter rotates', vand means adapted to, press upon the outer surfacek of each successive seal on said drum with a non-slip4 surface Aof small area after the seal has been stripped from said magazine and to move laterally thereto a short distance in a direction toward a closed edge of the ends of the seal to effect opening of the seal. near its two closed edges.

16. In aA machine for applying Seals 0f the tubular shrink fit regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a horizontal magazine adapted to contain a plurality of flat seals placed on edge, a rotary stripper drum disposed to present an upwardly moving cylindrical surface adjacent the fiat surface of the seal at one end of the magazine, means for moving said seals toward said stripper drum, means for eiecting tho lifting of the seals successively by said drum as the latter rotates, means adapted to press upon the outer surface cf each successive seal on said drum With a non-slip surface of small area after the seal has been stripped from said magazine and to move laterally thereto a short distance in a direction toward a closed edge of the seal to eiect opening of the ends of the-seal near its two closed edges, and means to pick up said opened seals from the drum and eiiect transferl of the same to corresponding bottle tops.

17. A machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink nt regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, comprising a generally cylindrical stripping element, means to retain the seals in folded condition upon said cylindrical element, means to partially open said seals successively While the samD are held by said cylindrical element, means to enter and pick up said partially opened seals one by one and transfer the same to a loading' means, a loading means for receiving said seals from said transfer means and depositing the same successively upon corresponding bottle tops, and means on said loading means for completing the opening of said seals loefore they are applied to the bottle tops.

13. A machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink fit regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, comprising means to retain the seals in folded condition, a generally cyiindri cal element vadapted to .remove the folded seals successively irom the end 'of a magazine, means to partially open said seals while on said cylindrical element, means tov enter and pick up said partially opened seals and transfer the same to a loading means, a loading means for receivingr .said seals from said transfer means and depositing the same successively upon corresponding bottle tops, and means on .said loading means for completingthe opening of said seals before they are applied to the bottle tops.

19. A machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink t regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, comprising a tank of seal pre servative liquid, a receptacle in said tank adapted to contain a stack of individual folded flat seals submerged in said preservative liquid, means mounted for movement into and out of said. tank and disposed at one end of said receptacle to lift the v:separate seals` successively -froni said` receptaole and tank, means to partiallyopen said seals after removal thereof from said tank, means to nick up and transfer said partial-1y Opened seals one by one to a loading station, loading means at said loading station for receiving said seals from saidtransfer means and depositing the same successively upon corresponding bottle tops, means on said loading means for completing the opening of said seals before they are applied to the bottle tops, and a common drive for all of said means and coordinating the operation thereol to effect a rapid application of seals to a series of bottles.

20. In a machine of the class described, a loader head, a plurality of substantially parallel lingers arranged in pairs spaced apart in one plane to receive a partially open tubular seal thereon, slide members in said head for supporting said lingers, and means for moving said inem bers apart to separate said fingers in a direction normal to said plane and thereby open said seal to substantially circular shape for application to a bottle top.

21.111 a machine of the class described, a loader head, a plurality cf substantially parallel lingers arranged in pairs spaced apart in one plane to receive a partially open tubular seal thereon, slide members in said head for supporting said fingers, means for moving said slide members apart to separate said fingers in a die rection normal to said plane and thereby open said seal to substantially circular shape for application to a bottle top, a stipper plate carried by the head and having slots therein for receiving corresponding pairs of said lingers and. providing for expansion and contraction of said fingers, and means for moving said stripper plate longitudinally of said lingers to strip the seal therefrom.

22. In a machine of the class described, a loader head, a plurality of substantially parallel lingers arranged in pairs spaced apart in one plane to receive a partially open tubular seal thereon, slide members in said head for supporting said fingers, means normally retaining said lingers in said planular arrangemer t, and means for moving said slide members apart to separate said lingers in a direction normal to said plane .f

and thereby open said seal to substantially circular shape for application to a bottle top.

23. In a machine of the class described, a loader head, a plurality of substantially parallel lingers arranged in pairs spaced apart, in one plane to receive a partially open tubular seal thereon, slide members in said head for supportf ing said lingers, means for moving said slide members apart to separate said lingers in a direction normal to said plane and thereby open said seal to substantially circular shape for application to a bottle top, a stripper plate carried by the head and having slots therein for receiving corresponding pairs of said lingers and pro- -siding for expansion and contraction of said iingers, means normally retaining said stripper plate in retracted position upon said lingers, and means for moving said stripper plate longitudinally of said lingers to strip the seal therefrom.

24. In a machine of the class described, a loader head, a plurality of substantially parallel lingers arranged in pairs spaced apart in one plane to receive a partially open tubular seal thereon, slide members in said head for supporting said lingers, means :for moving said slide members apart to separate said ngers in a direction normal to said plane and thereby open said seal to substantially circular shape for application to a bottle top, a stripper plate carried by the head and having slots therein for receivingl corresponding pairs'of said fingers and pro riding for expansion and contraction of said iingers, means for moving said stripper plate longitudinally of said fingers to strip the seal theree from, means normally retaining said lingers in said planular arrangement, and means normally retaining said stripper plate in retracted position upon said fingers.

25. In a machine of the class described, a loader head, a plurality of substantially parallel fingers arranged in pairs spaced apart in one plane to receive a partially open tubular seal thereon, slide members in said head for supporting said lingers, means for moving said slide members apart to separate said fingers in a direction normal to said pla-ne and thereby open said seal to substantially circular shape for application to a bottle top, a stripper plate carried by the head and having .slots therein for receiving corresponding pairs of said lingers and proiding for expansion and contraction of said iingers, means for moving said stripper plate longitudinally of said lingers to strip the seal there from, means normally retaining said lingers in .said planular arrangement, means normally retaining said stripper plate in retracted position upon said lingers, and a common drive for said :fingers and stripper plate operating the same in coordination.

26. In a machine of the class described, a tank adapted to contain preservative liquidior seals, la magazine in said tank adapted to contain a plurality of dat seals and` to Aretain the same on edge beneath the level of the liquid, an end plate ior said magazine generally of less height than the seals to conne the same against end thrust, means to move the seals toward said end plate, a shoe on the top of said seals disposed to prevent raising of the seals adjacent said end plate, -a vertical conveyor member adapted to move upwardly adjacent said end plate and spaced from said shoe at least a distance corresponding to the thickness of a single seal, and a suction port in said conveyor member disposed to operate in conjunction With the liquid in said tank to force the upper edge portion of the end seal against the surface of said conveyor member and out from under said shoe whereby said end seal is stripped upwardly from said magazine as the conveyor member moves upwardly and While the adjacent seal in said magazine is held in place by said shoe, said conveyor member being adapted to strip separate seals from said magazine in rapid succession as the seals are moved toward said end plate.

27. In a machine of the class described, a tank adapted to contain preservative liquid for seals, a magazine in said tank adapted to contain a plurality of at seals and to retain the same on edge beneath the level of the liquid, an end plate for said magazine generally of less height than the seals to confine the same against end thrust, means to move the seals toward said end plate. a shoe on the top of said seals disposed to prevent raising of the seals adjacent said end plate, an intermittently rotatable drum partially submerged below the level of the liquid and having an upwardly movable surface adjacent said end plate and spaced from said shoe to provide clearance for the passage of a seal therebetween, a plurality of stripper stations on said drum each having a series of small suction ports in the upper portion and disposed in a series extending transversely of the drum,'the suction ports for each station being adapted to be successively positioned adjacent the exposed upp'e'iportion of the end seal and above said end plate of said magaupper edge portion of the corresponding veiidseal toward and against the drum by the liquid pressure upon the seal, and vmeans to maintain the suction on said seal as the drum-` rotates to lift the seal upwardly out of the liquid, whereby the end seal is stripped from the magazine while the adjacent seal is held against upward movement by said shoe and said drum strips separate seals from the magazine in rapid succession as the seals are moved toward. said end plate.

28, In a machine of theA class described', a tank adapted to contain preservative liquid for seals, a magazine in said tank adapted to contain aplurality of ilat seals and to retain the same beneath the level of the liquid, a rotatable drum partiall-y submerged below the` level of the liquid and having its outer sui-face passing one end of said magazine, an end plate for said magazine adjacent the face of said drum and disposed to leave an edge portion of the end seal exposed to the drum in the direction of movement of the latter, means to move the seals in said magazine toward said end plate in stack formation with the side Wall of the end seal bearing ilat against said plate, a shoe disposed against the exposed edges of said seals to prevent removal thereof from the magazine by movement of the seals in the respective planes thereof, the edge of said shoe being spaced from the face of the drum to provide clearance for the passage of a single seal therebetween, a suction port in said drum disposed to operate in conjunction with the liquid in said tank to force the exposed edge portion of the end seal against the surface of the drum and free of said shoe, whereby the end seal is stripped from said magazine by the rotation of said drum while the adjacent seal is retained in said magazine by said shoe.

29. In a machine of the class described, a tank adapted to contain preservative liquid for seals, a magazine in said tank adapted to contain a plurality of flat seals beneath the level of the liquid, a rotatable drim partially submerged below the level of the liquid and disposed adjacent to one end of said magazine for stripping successive seals therefrom and lifting the same one by one out of the liquid, means to rotate said drum intermittently to present successive stripper stations on the drum surface to said magazine, at least one suction port in said drum surface at each stripper station, passages in said drum leading from said suction ports, a valve member Within said drum having a pair of passages extending outwardly of the drum and having separate passage means for connecting said last named longitudinal passages to corresponding separate passages in said drum, means to reciprocate said valve member in correlation to the intermittent rotation of said drum, a high suction pump and a low suction pump both connected to discharge into said tank and having separate inlet conduits leading from the corresponding longitudinal passages of said valve member, the passage means in said valve member being disposed to connect the suction port for the stripper station at the stripping position adjacent the magazine to the high suction pump and to maintain the suction thereon as the drum rotates to a position where said suction port is above the level of the liquid :infsaid tank and then to shift back to the next succeedingl suction port disposed adjacent the magazine and upon said shifting to connect the suction portjust previously raised from the liquid level to said low suction pump and to maintain said connection until the stripper station of said vidual-seals disposed inside said tank and having a discharge end with the seals therein disposed -uprigiiton edge,- a liquid preservative for said 4seals within the tank and submerging the magazine of seals therein, means disposed in said tank at the discharge end of said magazine of seals to remove successive wet seals from the magazine and lift the saine `individually out of the liquid, and mechanism to transfer the individual seals separately while fresh and Apliable from said lifting means to the point of application to successive bottle tops', whereby the seals arev prevented from shrinking during transfer and prior to application thereof. I

31. In a machine for transferring and applying seals of the `tubular shrink iit regenerated cellulose ltype to bottle ltops and the like, the combination of a tank, a magazine of flat individual seals disposed inside said tank and having a discharge end with the seals therein disposed upright on edge, a liquid preservative for said seals wi-thin the tank and submerging the magazine of seals therein, stripper mechanism dipping into said tank at one end of said magazine to lift seals successively from the discharge end of said magazine and liquid for transference to corresponding bottle tops, and means disposed to receive individual seals successively from said stripper mechanism and to open and transfer the same to the point of application.

32. In a machine for transferring and applying seals of the tubular shrink fit regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, the combination of a tank, a magazine of flat individual seals disposed inside said tank and having a discharge end with the seals therein disposed upright on edge, a liquid preservative for said seals within the tank and submerging the magazine of seals therein, means to strip wet seals one by one from the discharge end of said magazine and to lift the stripped seals from the liquid in said tank, and means disposed to receive successive seals from said stripper means and to open and transfer the same while fresh and pliable to corresponding bottle tops.

33. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink t regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a tank containing preserva- 'tive liquid for the seals, means in said tank for receiving a horizontal magazine of flat seals placed on edge in said magazine and submerged in said preservative liquid, means for stripping wet seals one by one from one end of said magazine, means to agitate and align the seals in said magazine and to move the same toward said stripping means, and means for opening and transferring said seals while fresh and pliable successively to corresponding bottle tops fed successively tothe machine.

34. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink t regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a tank containing preservative liquid for the seals, means in said `tank for receiving a horizontal magazine of at seals placed on edge in said magazine and submerged in said preservative liquid, means for stripping Wet seals one by one from one end of said magazine, means pressing the seals at the other end of said magazine to move the same toward said stripping means, and means for opening and transferring said seals while fresh and pliable successively to corresponding ybottle tops fed successively to the machine.

35. In a machine for applying seals of the tubular shrink t regenerated cellulose type to bottle tops and the like, a tank for containing preservative liquid for lche seals, means in said tank for receiving a horizontal magazine of ilat seals placed on edge in said magazine, means for stripping wet seals one by one from one end of said magazine, means vpressing the seals at the other end of said magazine to move the same toward said stripping means, means to periodically move 20 REFERENCES CITED y The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 322,670 Yates July 21, 1885 1,125,802 Bracy Jan. 19, 1915 1,339,370 Roehrig May 4, 1920 1,743,734 Steele Jan. 14, 1930 1,835,336 Risser Dec. 8, 1931 2,049,022 Reininger July 28, 1936 2,079,326 Levy et al. May 4, 1937 2,103,302 Strout Dec. 28, 1937 2,178,429 Lowry Oct. 31, 1939 2,272,258 Allen Feb. l0, 1942 2,278,689 Boron et al Feb. 17, 1942 2,409,626 Harrington et al. Oct. 22, 1946 2,579,458 Allen et al. Dec. 25, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Y 282.510 Great Britain Dec. 29, 1927 

